What is the most popular index fund?
Market exposure: The most popular index is the S&P 500 index, but index funds track dozens of other indexes. Choose an index that offers the market exposure you want, then focus on funds that track the index.
- Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500)
- Dow Jones Industrial Average.
- Nasdaq Composite.
- Russell 2000.
Within the world of corporate governance, there has hardly been a more important recent development than the rise of the 'Big Three' asset managers—Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors, and BlackRock.
- HDFC Index S&P BSE Sensex Fund. ...
- Tata S&P BSE Sensex Index Fund. ...
- Axis Nifty 100 Index Fund. ...
- HSBC Nifty 50 Index Fund. ...
- Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF FoF. ...
- Mirae Asset Equity Allocator FoF. ...
- Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap 150 Index Fund. ...
- Motilal Oswal Nifty Next 50 Index Fund.
| Fund (ticker) | 5-year annual returns | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index (FNILX) | 15.3% | 0% |
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 15.2% | 0.03% |
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) | 15.2% | 0.095% |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) | 15.2% | 0.03% |
Our recommendation for the best overall S&P 500 index fund is the Fidelity 500 Index Fund. With a 0.015% expense ratio, it's the cheapest on our list. And it doesn't have a minimum initial investment requirement, sales loads or trading fees. Over the last 10 years, FXAIX has returned an annualized 12.02%.
- 9 Safest Index Funds and ETFs to buy in 2024. ...
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -0.8%) ...
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM -0.51%) ...
- Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ -1.45%) ...
- iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT -0.89%) ...
- Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP -0.59%)
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds are similar in many ways but ETFs are considered to be more convenient to enter or exit. They can be traded more easily than index funds and traditional mutual funds, similar to how common stocks are traded on a stock exchange.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.
Your index fund should mirror the performance of the underlying index. To check, look at the index fund's returns on the mutual fund quote page. It shows the index fund's returns during several time periods, compared with the performance of the benchmark index. Don't panic if the returns aren't identical.
What is the best index fund to buy Warren Buffett?
Instead, he has consistently told investors to buy an S&P 500 index fund. "I recommend the S&P 500 index fund, and have for a long, long time to people. And I've never recommended Berkshire to anybody," Buffett said at Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting in 2021.
The average stock market return is about 10% per year, as measured by the S&P 500 index, but that 10% average rate is reduced by inflation. Investors can expect to lose purchasing power of 2% to 3% every year due to inflation. » Learn more about purchasing power with NerdWallet's inflation calculator.
| Ticker | Name | Annual dividend yield |
|---|---|---|
| SPYD | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | 4.49% |
| FDL | First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 4.36% |
| DJD | Invesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF | 4.25% |
| SDOG | ALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF | 4.14% |
Stock Market Average Yearly Return for the Last 10 Years
The historical average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 12.68% over the last 10 years, as of the end of February 2024. This assumes dividends are reinvested.
Are there dividend-paying index funds? Yes, there are several dividend-paying index funds for investors who prioritize steady income over high growth.
| Index fund | Minimum investment | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard 500 Index Fund - Admiral Shares (VFIAX) | $3,000. | 0.04%. |
| Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX) | No minimum. | 0.02%. |
| Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) | No minimum. | 0.015%. |
| Fidelity Zero Large Cap Index (FNILX) | No minimum. | 0.0%. |
Bottom Line. If you want to actively trade within your accounts, Fidelity might be the better option. However, if you want to focus more on index investing, or you want to use a robo-advisor, Vanguard has a slight edge.
| Return Type | 1 Yr | 5 Yrs |
|---|---|---|
| BEFORE TAXES Close Popover | ||
| FUND Fidelity® 500 Index Fund | 29.87% | 15.04% |
| PRIMARY BENCHMARK S&P 500 Close Popover | 29.88% | 15.05% |
| AFTER TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS Close Popover |
Yes, FXAIX has paid a dividend within the past 12 months. How much is Fidelity 500 Index Fund's dividend? FXAIX pays a dividend of $0.7 per share. FXAIX's annual dividend yield is 1.76%.
But along with that comes slower gains than you may experience investing in individual stocks, options, crypto or other higher-risk investments. Remember, index funds are passively managed, so there's little chance to make quick adjustments and realize significant short-term gains.
What are 2 cons to investing in index funds?
Disadvantages include the lack of downside protection, no choice in index composition, and it cannot beat the market (by definition).
The short answer is a resounding yes. Let's take a look at why this is. While past investment performance doesn't guarantee future results, the return of S&P 500 index funds has been about 9% to 10% annualized per year over long periods, depending on the exact timeframe you're looking at.
The biggest difference between investing in index funds and investing in stocks is risk. Individual stocks tend to be far more volatile than fund-based products, including index funds. This can mean a bigger chance for upside … but it also means considerably greater chance of loss.
ETFs and index mutual funds tend to be generally more tax efficient than actively managed funds. And, in general, ETFs tend to be more tax efficient than index mutual funds. You want niche exposure. Specific ETFs focused on particular industries or commodities can give you exposure to market niches.
Investing most or all your money in individual stocks is risky and can lead to losing your investment capital. Investing exclusively in index funds is risk averse and offers much less in the way of returns. Ideally, you want to keep most of your investment dollars in safer investments such as index funds.
